And also answer Nate’s last text. I was going to before I got sidetracked by Tham’s one. Damn him.
But yeah, definitely change the topic. I wouldn’t want the information to reach Jack before I have a chance to talk to him.
“It’s not it, actually,” I say dryly, forcing a smile. “My family’s been trying to call me all day, and I’ve successfully avoided their calls, texts, and even thinking about it. But Tham texted.”
Nuri frowns, her smile completely faded. “What does he want?”
“I don’t know. He said it’s important, and other weird things that I’m not sure I understand.”
“Like what?” she scoffs.
“That he thought we moved on from what happened before when he apologized. He doesn’t seem to know why we’re… Staying away from them all.”
She rolls her eyes, sighing angrily. “Bullshit. Like your parents could hide the reason for ten years! And if they could, it’s even worse! It means none of your siblings actually cared enough to ask. I think he’s lying. There’s no way he doesn’t know.”
“Why would he lie?” I ask, playing with the sand.
“Maybe because you wouldn’t answer him? That dude has always been a manipulative dick to you. Yeah, I know he’s your brother,” she drawls when I give her a pointed look. “But still. He apologized? So what? It doesn’t fix the 18 years he spent bullying you!”
Evie is fidgeting with the leather strings holding her belt at her waist, listening to us without saying anything. I might have brought the playfulness of our conversation a little down…
“Although, when I think about it… It’s a little weird thatThamof all people would try to reach out to you if you didn’t answer your parents,” Nuri muses. “The younger of them, what was his name?”
“Naveen,” I say with a nod.
“Yes, him! He would have been the smarter choice. I mean, from what I’ve gathered in the few times I’d been at your house, he’s the most diplomatic of the lot. Wouldn’t you have answered ifhecalled you?”
“Probably, yes. I mean, he was the most civil…” I admit.
“Sowhat on earthdoes Tham want with you?”
“I don’t know,” I shrug, exhaling slowly. “I guess I’ll find out tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh, no,” she groans. “You agreed to talk to him?”
“I did. I want to know what made him break the silence and call me. I want to know if he truly doesn’t know why we cut the ties. And maybe I’ll lethim tell me what the fuss is all about…”
She grunts in annoyance. She doesn’t like my family—with obvious good reasons, as she’s both mine and Jack’s friend—and has always been vocal about it. Before they turned their back on Jack, she was already wary of them. The way they raised us, building a wall between all of their children. The way they adopted me shortly after they found out about Jack’s disease and placed the responsibility of taking care of him in my hands when I was barely seven because it became too inconvenient for them. How they pushed us to compete against each other for their attention and affection.
She’s clearly not a fan.
“I just hope it’s not to give me shit about Amy’s pregnancy announcement that I missed in one of their last video-chats. That would be a waste of my time…”
“She’s pregnant?Again?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re one to talk.”
“Oh come on! She has to be at number seven. Or eight? I lost count.”
I chuckle, shaking my head softly. Number seven it is. Would have been 9th, but she’s had two miscarriages in the past. I texted her when I learned about them to send my condolences and tell her I was really sad and sorry for her loss, but she never texted back, ignoring me altogether.
“Anyway, that’s why I was a little mad at my phone.”
“I’m a little relieved to be honest,” Evie says. “For a second, I thought Nate fucked up.”
“Evie!” Nuri scolds.
“What? He told you they talked! It’s not like I’m revealing classified information.”
